Ahmedabad, March 9 (NationPress) New Zealand's skipper, Mitch Santner, acknowledged that his team was outperformed by India in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. Despite suffering a substantial 96-run loss at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, he expressed pride in his players' contributions.

On a challenging pitch, New Zealand's bowlers struggled as India amassed an impressive score of 255/5. The Blackcaps were then dismissed for 159 in just 19 overs. Santner also took a moment to thank the fans in New Zealand for their unwavering support, as his team again fell short of clinching a white-ball World Cup title.

"We appreciate the support from fans back home. Although I’ll have to return to work without a trophy, we have received fantastic backing from both home and here," Santner said in the post-match press conference.

"It was incredible to play in front of such a large crowd, predominantly wearing blue shirts rather than black. It's always a great event, and we relish the opportunity to compete in front of so many fans. Although it wasn't our finest performance against a very strong opponent, I am grateful to our supporters back home," he added.

The Blackcaps had previously triumphed over South Africa by nine wickets in the semi-finals in Kolkata, entering the final with confidence. However, they were ultimately outmatched by India's formidable batting lineup and Jasprit Bumrah’s sharp bowling.

"Losing in semi-finals and finals isn't ideal, but as I mentioned earlier, reaching this stage means you are up against teams performing at a high level. India in a final is always a significant challenge. We recognized we were the underdogs going into this match," he explained.

“India showcased their talent with their batting display. Chasing 250 runs requires everything to go right, and losing wickets during the Powerplay presents a considerable hurdle. The day’s narrative was dictated by both teams' Powerplays. We were around three for 40, while they scored over 90 without losing a wicket,” he continued.

New Zealand will now shift their focus toward preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, followed by the 11th edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with Australia in 2028.

"While that seems a long way off, we will take the next few days to reflect on this tournament as a team. Reaching the final is a commendable achievement, and the players should feel proud of their performances throughout this competition," Santner stated.

"The next major event is the ODI World Cup in South Africa, which will present different challenges than what we've experienced here. Our subsequent T20 World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand, which should provide us an advantage with familiar conditions and supportive fans."

"Winning a World Cup in your own country is particularly challenging, and for India to achieve this feat comes with significant pressure from home supporters. They should take great pride in their victory," he concluded.